Copyright © 2005 Altera Corporation. All rights reserved. Altera, The Programmable Solutions Company, the stylized Altera logo, specific device des-
ignations, and all other words and logos that are identified as trademarks and/or service marks are, unless noted otherwise, the trademarks and
service marks of Altera Corporation in the U.S. and other countries. All other product or service names are the property of their respective holders. Al-
tera products are protected under numerous U.S. and foreign patents and pending applications, maskwork rights, and copyrights. Altera warrants
performance of its semiconductor products to current specifications in accordance with Altera's standard warranty, but reserves the right to make
changes to any products and services at any time without notice. Altera assumes no responsibility or liability arising out of the ap-
plication or use of any information, product, or service described herein except as expressly agreed to in writing by Altera
Corporation. Altera customers are advised to obtain the latest version of device specifications before relying on any published in-
formation and before placing orders for products or services.
ii Altera Corporation
Avalon Streaming Interface Specification
FS-0100-1.1
Altera Corporation 1
How to Contact Altera
This specification provides comprehensive specification for the Avalon
®
Streaming Interface, version 1.1
How to Contact
Altera
For the most up-to-date information about Altera products, refer to the
following table.
Typographic
Conventions
This document uses the typographic conventions shown below.
Contact (1)
Contact
Method
Address
Technical support Website www.altera.com/support
Technical training Website www.altera.com/training
Email custrain@altera.com
Product literature Website www.altera.com/literature
Altera literature services Email literature@altera.com
Non-technical support (General)
(Software Licensing)
Email nacomp@altera.com
Email authorization@altera.com
Note to Table:
(1) You can also contact your local Altera sales office or sales representative.
Visual Cue Meaning
Bold Type with Initial
Capital Letters
Command names, dialog box titles, checkbox options, and dialog box options are
shown in bold, initial capital letters. Example: Save As dialog box.
bold type External timing parameters, directory names, project names, disk drive names,
filenames, filename extensions, and software utility names are shown in bold
type. Examples: f
MAX
, \qdesigns directory, d: drive, chiptrip.gdf file.
Italic Type with Initial Capital
Letters
Document titles are shown in italic type with initial capital letters. Example: AN 75:
High-Speed Board Design.
Italic type Internal timing parameters and variables are shown in italic type.
Examples: t
PIA
, n + 1.
Variable names are enclosed in angle brackets (< >) and shown in italic type.
Example: <file name>, <project name>.pof file.
Initial Capital Letters Keyboard keys and menu names are shown with initial capital letters. Examples:
Delete key, the Options menu.
“Subheading Title” References to sections within a document and titles of on-line help topics are
shown in quotation marks. Example: “Typographic Conventions.”
1–12 Altera Corporation
Avalon Streaming Interface Specification
Courier type Signal and port names are shown in lowercase Courier type. Examples: data1,
tdi, input. Active-low signals are denoted by suffix n, e.g., resetn.
Anything that must be typed exactly as it appears is shown in Courier type. For
example:
c:\qdesigns\tutorial\chiptrip.gdf. Also, sections of an
actual file, such as a Report File, references to parts of files (e.g., the VHDL
keyword
BEGIN), as well as logic function names (e.g., TRI) are shown in
Courier.
1., 2., 3., and
a., b., c., etc.
Numbered steps are used in a list of items when the sequence of the items is
important, such as the steps listed in a procedure.
■
● • Bullets are used in a list of items when the sequence of the items is not important.
v The checkmark indicates a procedure that consists of one step only.
1 The hand points to information that requires special attention.
c
The caution indicates required information that needs special consideration and
understanding and should be read prior to starting or continuing with the
procedure or process.
w
The warning indicates information that should be read prior to starting or
continuing the procedure or processes
r The angled arrow indicates you should press the Enter key.
f The feet direct you to more information on a particular topic.
Visual Cue Meaning
Altera Corporation 3
May 2007
Table of Contents
How to Contact Altera .............................................................................................................................. 1
Typographic Conventions ........................................................................................................................ 1
Introduction ............................................................................................................................................ 1–9
Features .............................................................................................................................................. 1–9
History ............................................................................................................................................. 1–10
Terms & Concepts .......................................................................................................................... 1–10
Data Interface Signals .......................................................................................................................... 1–13
Signal Polarity ................................................................................................................................. 1–15
Signal Naming Conventions ......................................................................................................... 1–15
Signal Sequencing & Timing ........................................................................................................ 1–16
Resets ................................................................................................................................................ 1–17
Transfer Properties ......................................................................................................................... 1–17
Fundamental Data Transfers ............................................................................................................. 1–18
Signal Details .................................................................................................................................. 1–18
Data Layout ..................................................................................................................................... 1–20
Data Transfer without Backpressure ................................................................................................ 1–21
Data Transfer with Backpressure ...................................................................................................... 1–21
Packet Data Transfers .......................................................................................................................... 1–23
Signal Details .................................................................................................................................. 1–24
Protocol Details ............................................................................................................................... 1–24
Block & Burst Transfers ...................................................................................................................... 1–27
Signal Details .................................................................................................................................. 1–27
Blocks & Bursts ............................................................................................................................... 1–27
Component-Specific Signals .............................................................................................................. 1–30
Is_Required ..................................................................................................................................... 1–31
Treat_As ........................................................................................................................................... 1–32
Appendix I. Common Symbol Types ............................................................................................... 1–33
Appendix II. Common Error Conditions ......................................................................................... 1–34
Document Revision History ............................................................................................................... 1–35